Car industry slowdown hurts Image Scan

5th Oct 2009 07:43

X-Ray imaging group Image Scan is seeking to tilt its business towards security scanning and away from industry after seeing a slowdown in sales in the latter category.The firm has been hit hard by the downturn in car manufacturing around the world, though it did point out that it has benefited from an order for an industrial inspection system for autocatalyst maker Johnson Matthey to use at its plant in Japan.Security sales have benefited from orders from a major Chinese financial institution to use Image Scan's technology to screen mail and from the British Transport Police to use its package x-ray inspection system. Image Scan is anticipating turnover to have come in at £1.4m for the year to September 30, compared with £2m for the previous year.Speaking about the company's new focus on security scanning and increased government interest in the area, chief executive Louise George said: 'The challenge for 2010 will be to convert that interest into sales in a period when governments are having to balance economic reality against their security needs.'